Sammy Charchio talks about what it means to him to bring his home back to life.
Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times

Friday Update: As of 6 p.m., Phelan's GoFundMe page has reached $1,420 in donations. Donations of any kind are accepted and can be sent to Phelan or the Times.

We will be talking to Charchio over the weekend and bringing readers an update on the next step in rebuilding his home.

Thursday Update: As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Phelan's GoFundMe page has reached $595. Donations of any kind are accepted and can be sent to Phelan or the Times.

The Times will be talking with Charchio again to find out what he else he will need and what ways the community can help.

Wednesday Update: In less than 24 hours, Phelan's GoFundMe page has more than doubled its donations with $470 raised so far.

Also, a local electrician has offered his services by donating labor, wiring and materials needed to turn the lights on at Charchio's home. A Mansfield woman has reached out as well to help as well by donating materials she used to renovate her own home.

Original Story: During his 77 years, Sammy Charchio has lived in his Wells Island Road home for 65.

Charchio's house took on three feet of water when the river crested in late June. While some in the area decided to abandon their ruined homes and find new ones after the water receded, Charchio decided to commit his efforts toward repairing and restoring his home.

"Some people are more attached to their homes than others," Charchio said. "Some people can move around and it doesn't bother them much but some people aren't that way. For them, home is home. I'm one of those people."

For the effort of salvaing his home, Charchio found an ally in Shreveport firefighter John Phelan.

Phelan was part of the group tasked with checking on water levels and the residents of Wells Island Road during the flood. After the two spent a few days chatting — SFD checked the area every 12 hours at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. — Phelan decided he wanted to help.

"He's out there every day working his land, cleaning up and fixing his house," Phelan said. "He even wired electricity and plumbing to a travel trailer, so he still lives on his property."

Once the water receded, Phelan began working on a video for his YouTube channel, Black Helmet Films, in hopes of spreading Charchio's story. Along with the video, Phelan created a GoFundMe page to give viewers a chance to help by donating to the crowd-funding site.

So far, Phelan has raised $195 — far from the $5,000 he hopes to collect to help make Charchio's home livable once more.

Charchio and his mother completed construction on the house in 1950. He's called it home ever since.

Charchio said the last time his home was threatened by floodwaters was during the 1990 flood when Red River crested at 34.5 feet. He and his mother, who died in 1997, watched the water creep toward their home 25 years ago but the signature silt-line only hit the baseboards of the home 3 inches off the floors.

Despite minor damage and cleanup, he dodged a bullet.

This year he wasn't so lucky.

"It came fast," Charchio said. "When I saw it hit the first step coming up to the house I sat and watched, and it didn't take no time for it to make it up to the second step. It just kept on — like someone turned on a faucet."

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Sammy Charchio works on fixing up his home located on Wells Island Road where flood waters reach several feet high.(Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

But with sheet rock, floors, major appliances, electrical wiring, an HVAC unit, furniture and more needing to be repaired or replaced, Charchio faces a daunting task both physically and financially.

And since Caddo Parish didn't qualify for individual assistance from FEMA — which would have aided private home and business owners with recovery — all Charchio can do is keep working.

"I understand there's a lot of people who are upset about not getting any assistance but Mr. Sammy decided he's not going to flop over because he wasn't getting any help," Phelan said. "He's going to do what he can to get his house back."

With limited manpower and time to work in the extreme August heat, Charchio admits he's getting discouraged.

"I get down about this so much," Charchio said. "I was down just yesterday and ready to just leave it alone, and I'm not feeling much more positive today. It's a lot of hard decisions."

Still, he keeps working. His main task on a day-to-day basis (other than opening the doors of Holy Trinity Catholic Church before daily morning mass) is to revive the house he's called home since he was a child.

"This is where I'll be," Charchio said. "I don't see myself going any other place. I like it out here. It's quiet and peaceful ... until the mighty Red mudded it up."

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Sammy Charchio home located on Wells Island Road was destroyed by the flood, this little kitchen prayer plaque still hangs in the kitchen.(Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)